Polymarket paid a network of social-media creators to stage bets and winnings on near-perfect replicas of its website, according to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal. The campaign targeted U.S. users, even though the company is legally barred from serving them.
How the scheme worked
The Wall Street Journal reported that Polymarket hired mostly college-age creators to film themselves placing bets and winning money. The bets never actually happened. The creators were paid to stage the content on replica websites that closely mimicked the real Polymarket platform.
Why the U.S. ban matters
Polymarket is not allowed to operate in the United States due to legal restrictions on prediction markets. By paying creators to produce content that appeared to show real betting activity, the platform potentially bypassed those restrictions. The Journal's investigation did not detail how many creators were involved or the total amount paid.
The investigation's scope
The Wall Street Journal conducted the investigation independently. The report did not specify whether Polymarket has been contacted by regulators or if the company plans to respond to the findings. The platform has not issued a public statement about the scheme.
What remains unclear
The Journal's investigation leaves open the question of how Polymarket will reconcile the campaign with its legal obligations in the U.S. The company's next steps, and any regulatory response, are not yet known.
